Gap ionizer



Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES QUINCY A. BRA CKETT.

PATENT OFFICE;

OF PITTSBURGZ'L PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- VANIA.

GAP IONIZER.

Application filed January 16. 1819. Serial No. 271,492.

To 6/. 10 mm it only (HI/(1'))! Be it known tha l. QUINCY P'RACIUCTV, a citizen of the United Stats-s. and a resident oi Pittsburgh, in the county of .\lleghcny and State of Pennsylvania. have invented a new and useful Improvement in (lap Ionizers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates-to electrolytic light- 10 ning arresters and particularly to arr-esters in which electrodes made of? a film--t'orrni11g metal, such as aluminum, are immersed in a suitable electrolyte, and it has for its object to provide a novel device and system whereby the films in such arresters may be reformed.

My invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with lightning arr-esters constructed in accordance with the disclosureof the copending application on protective devices, Serial, No. 216,088, filed by Ches ter T. Allcutt and assigned to the estinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

Heretoiore, it has been customary to reform the films in electrolytic lightning arresters by causing a conducting member to bridge the discharge gap which is usually connected in series with the arresters. Bridging niembers of this nature areusually mounted on rotatable insulating bases which are very heavy and which require consider able power to move. Also, the fact that the bridging member must be-moved some distance from the discharge gap in order to prevent arcing thereto when voltage surges traverse the lines, renders any "device for automatically charging the arrester by bridging the discharge gap unwieldly and uncommercial.

By my invention, I provide a charging device in which the movable bridging memher is eliminated and which is particularly adapted for automatic operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic'view of a system embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a Similar 1 view showing a slightly different form thereof; Fig. 3 is a partially structural and partially diagrammatic view of a charging device constructed in accordance with my invention and also a system for operating the same; Fig. 4c is a diagrammatic view showing the possibilities of employing my invention in conjunction with the structure of the previously mentioned 'oopending application; and Fig. 5 is a partially structural and partially diagrammatic view of an arresler embodying a diiierent form of charging device.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings for a more detailed understanding of my invention, I show a line wire at 7, this wire be ing connected to a horn-shaped discharge member 8. An opposing horn-gap member 5) is connected to ground at 10 through an electrolytic arrester 11. A small antenna 12 is mounted between the bases of the horns 8 and 9 and is connected to the horn 8 through a current-limiting device 13 and switch 14. The resistor 13 must be of such value that current passing therethrough at normal voltage is very small. Under normal conditions, the switch 14 is open and the antenna 12 assumes the potential of the surrounding electrostatic field, thus causing no disturbance of the electrostatic conditions between the horns 8 and 9.

\Vhen it is desired to charge the arrester 11', the switch 14: is closed, thereby causing the antenna 12 to assume substantially the same potential as the horn member 8, thus causing the space between the antenna 12 and the horn member 9 to become ionized. This ionization also extends to the horn member 8, causing a breakdown of the atmosphere and an arc to be established between the horn members 8 and 9, thus causing the current to flow from the line 7 to the horn member 8 to the horn member 9 through the arr-ester 11 to ground.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 except that a condenser.15 is substituted for the resistor 13. The condenser 15 is of such capacity that, at normal frequency. when the switch ,14: is closed, the antenna 12 is raised to substantially the same potential as the horn member 8.

Fig. 3 shows a structure in which the condenser effect is provided by means of a pillar-type insulator 16 upon which the horn member 9 'is mounted, said pillar-type insulator comprising a series or column of in sulating members separated by conducting supporting members, as is well known in the art. The antenna 12 is connected to the pillar-type insulator through a switch 17 provided with an operating coil 18 connected in an auxiliary circuit 19. \Vhen the circuit 19 is energized, the switch 17 is closed, thereby changing the potential of the antenna, 12 to substantially that of the horn member 9. The auxiliary line 19 extends parallel to the main line 7 and is energized only when it is desired to charge the arrester.

In Fig. 4, the antenna 12 is connected to the horn member 9through a condenser 15 and is connected to the horn-member 8 through theswitch 14, a condenser 20 and an inductive coil 21. When the switch 14 is in its closed osition, the arrester is sub-' stantially similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned application, essentially of a discharge gap provided with a dischar e antenna which is connected to both mem loers of the gap but through dissimilar impedance. the antenna is at the potential of the surrounding field but diiiers therefrom at abnormal frequency because of the different distribution of impedance drops. When the potential of the antenna approaches the potential of one of the horn members, the atmosphere surrounding the antenna and the other horn member becomes ionized, resulting in a breakdown between the two horn-gap members. When it is desired to charge the arrester 11, the switch 14: is opened, thus causing the antenna 12 to be raised to the potential of the born 9 and causing a discharge to flow between thehorn gap membets 8 and 9 to ground 10 throu h the arrester 11, as previously describe the discharge forming a current path in shunt relationship to the connection containing the switch.

In Fig.v 5, I show the horns 8 and 9 provided with spherical surfaces 21, for initial discharge, and mounted on insulators 22 and 23. he born 9 is connected to line 7 and horn 8 to ground through a charging impedance. 24 and the electrolytic arrester 11. The antenna 12 is connected to the line 7 through a resistance 25, a switch 26, operated by a clock mechanism 27, and the upper portion of the pillar-type insulator 23 which serves as a condenser. The antenna is also connected to the born 8 through the lower part ofijthe' insulator 23, the electrolytic arrester 11 and the charging resistance 24:. It is essential that the impedances of the two sides tie-substantially the same at normal frequency, antenna 12 will have a potential half-way between the potentials of the hornsi'8 and 9. At predetermined intervals, the clock mechanism 27 operates the switch 26 to break the circuit in which it is connected, and the antenna 12 is immediately raised to substantially the potential of'the horn -'8, eausinga breakdown between the horns 8 and 9, in the manner previously pointed out.

Although I have shown invgntion with the antenna between the horns 8 and 9, it is,

and described my located half-way of course,

which consists At normal frequency,.

so that the obvious that it could be disposed anywhere the only essent al 1 between these members, feature being that the impedances be of such value that the antenna is normally mainunderstood that it is applicable for use in which any device employing a spark gap is broken down to accomplish some purpose, such, for example, as exploding mines an other similar apparatus operated in this manner.

While I have shown my invention in'a plurality of forms, it will be obvious to .those, skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various minor chan es and modifications without departing rom the spirit thereof and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as priorart or are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: a 1. In combination with lightning. arrester, a comprising two main discharge members rigidly mounted in spaced relation to each other, one of-said main discharge members being connected to ground through said electrolytic arrester, and an auxiliary discharge member fixedly mounted adjacent said main discharge members, and means for changing the potential of said auxiliary discharge member to substantiallytlle same value as that of one of the main discharge members.

2. In combination with an electrolytic lightning arrester, a film-forming device comprising two main discharge members rigidly mounted in spaced relation to each are imposed by the an. electrolytic film-forming device an auxiliary discharge member fixedly mounted intermediate said main discharge members, and means for changing the potential of said auxiliary dis-; charge member to value as that of one of ,the main discharge members. I

3. In combination with an electrolytic lightning arrester, a film-forming device comprising-two main discharge members mounted in spaced relation to each other, one of said main discharge members being connected to ground through said electrolytic arrester, and an auxiliary discharge member mounted intermediate said ma n discharge members and said auxiliary discharge member comprising a condenser and a switch and automatic means for opening and closing said switch. i

substantially the same 4. In combination with an electrolytic lightning arrester, a film-forming device comprising two mam discharge members mounted in spaced relation to each other,

one of said main discharge members being connected to a supply circuit and the other being connected to ground through said electrolytic arrester, and an auxiliary discharge member mounted intermediate sait main discharge members, anda connection between one of said main discharge members" and said auxiliary discharge member comprising a condenser formed by an insulator on which one of said main discharge members is mounted, and a switch.

5.111, combination with an electrolytic lightning arrester, a filmforming device comprising two main discharge members mounted in spaced relation to each other, one of said main discharge members being connected to a supply ci "edit and the other being connected to ground discharge members being mounted on a pillar-type insulator, and an auxiliary discharge member mounted intermediate said main discharge members and connected to one of the metallic plates of said pillar-type comprising two main discharge members .mounted 1n spaced relation to each other, one of said main discharge members being connected to a supply circuit and the other to ground through said electrolytic arrester,

an auxiliary discharge member mounted adac'cnt said main discharge members con-.

nections embodying impedancemembers of dissimilar character between saidauxiliary discharge member and said main discharge members, respectively, and means for causing the potential of said auxiliary discharge member to be substantially the same as that of one of themain discharge members.

7. In combination with an electrolytic lightning arrester, a film-forming device comprising two main discharge members mounted in spaced relation to each other,

, one of said main discharge members being connected to a supply circuit and the other [discharge member and one of said main dis-- tmground through said electrolytic arrester, an auxiliary discharge member nzounted adjacent said main discharge members, coirnections embodying impedance members of dissimihir character between said auxiliary discharge member and said main discharge members,respectively, and a switch tounccte'd 'in the circuit between said auxiliary charge members.

8, In combination with an electrolytic hghtning arr-ester, a film--form1ng device through 'said electrolytic arrester, one of saidmain comprising two main discharge members mounted in spaced relation to each other. one o't said main discharge members being connected to a supply circuit and the other to ground through said electrolytic arrester, an auxiliary discharge member mounted adjacent said main discharge numbers. and means whereby, at normal trequencyot said circuit, said auxiliary electrodc l5. maintained at substantially the potential of the immediately adjacent electrostatic tield set up by said discharge members, and additional means whereby said auxiliary electrode may be charged to disturb said electrostatic field. I

9.1n combination with an electrolytic lightning arrcster, alilnrlorming device comprising two main discharge members mounted in spaced rclation to each other,

one of said main discharge members being connected to a supply circuit and the other to ground through said electrolytic arr-ester, an auxiliary discharge mcniber mounted adjacent said-main discharge members. and means whereby at normal frequency of said circuit, said auxiliary electrode is maintained at substantially the potential of the immediately adjacent electrostatic field set up by said discharge -mcmhers, and additional means whereby said balanced condition may be destroyed.

10. I a discharge-gap device comprising two spaced main electrodes maintained at different potentials and an intcrmediately disposed auxiliary electrode connected by shunt connections -to-said main electrodes, the method of effecting a breakdown between said main electrodes comprising increasing the impedance of the shunt connectirm-between said auxiliz'iry' electrode and. one otsai-d main-electrodes, whereby the potential of said-auxiliary electrode IS changed;

11. In a discharge-gap device comprising' two main electrodes spaced apart to form a gap and maintained at difl'crent. potent-ials,.

and an intermcdiat-ely disposed auxiliary electrode connected to said main electrodes by connections disposed in shunt relationship to said gap, the method "of cti'cctmg a breakdown between StlHl main electrodes comprising causing an arc bctwccn said;

auxiliary electrode and one oi said main electrodes, 'whcrcby the potent al of said auxiliary clcctrodepis changed.

12. in a dischargegap device comprising two main electrodes spaced apart to' form a gap and n'iainlained at ditfcrcnt potentials,

and an -intcrmed atcly disposed auxiliary clcctrodc connected to said main electrodes by connections disposed in shunt -rela-tioiiship to said gap, said shunt connection comprising aswitch, the method of effecting a breakdown between said main electrodes comprising opening said switch sufiiciently to draw an are between some of said.ele c-- trodes, whereby the potential of said auxiliary electrode is changed.

' 13. The combination with two fixed discharge gap members, spaced apart to form a gap, one of which is connected .to a supply circuit and the other of which is connected to ground, an auxiliary discharge member disposed intermediate said main dischar e members, of means connected toboth of said disdharge-gap members-constituting a shunt "COIIIIGOUOII to said gap and comprisinga plurality of impedance members of dissimilar nature and a switch, said auxiliary discharge member being connected to said shunt connection at a point the potential of which corresponds to the potential of the electrostatic field immediately adjacent theauxiliary discharge member.

14. The combination with two fined discharge-gap members spacedapart to form a 1,477,eoa

gap, one of which is connected to a supply Q connection at a point the potential of. which corresponds to the potential of the electrostatic field immediately adjacent the auxiliary discharge memberand means for opening said switch to alter the potential of said auxiliary dischargemember.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto scribed my namethis 30th day of December, 1918.

. QUINCY A. BRACKETT. 

